Stacia Haynie, Ph.D.

Stacia Haynie, Ph.D., began her tenure as the 13th president of Midwestern State University on August 1, 2023. She is a native of nearby Henrietta, Texas, and earned two degrees from Midwestern State University — a bachelor's degree in theatre and a master's degree in political science. She received a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Texas.

As an accomplished scholar and leader in higher education with 33 years of service to Louisiana State University, Dr. Haynie rose in the academic ranks to full professor and retired from the institution as the J.W. Annison Jr. Family Alumni Professor. Dr. Haynie served LSU in numerous administrative roles including Department Chair, Associate and Interim Dean of the Graduate School, Vice Provost for Academics and Planning, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Executive Vice President & Provost.

Dr. Haynie studies judicial politics with special emphasis on comparative appellate court decision-making. She has particular expertise in the legal systems of South Africa, the Philippines and India. Her studies also include analyses of United States Supreme Court decision-making and civil trial court decisions in U.S. state courts. Dr. Haynie's book, Judging in Black and White: Decision Making in the South African Appellate Division, 1950-1990, explores the decisions of judges during the apartheid era of South Africa.

Her studies also include analysis of civil trial court decisions in U.S. state courts. Her forthcoming book with the University of Virginia Press, Does Privilege Prevail: Litigation in Higher Courts Across the Globe, explores the decision-making of the high courts of Australia, Canada, Great Britain, India, the Philippines and South Africa from 1970-2000 analyzing who wins and why.

Dr. Haynie teaches courses in Judicial Politics, American Constitutional Law, Comparative Judicial Politics and American Public Law.

Throughout her career, Dr. Haynie has been devoted to providing students with the best possible educational opportunities and supporting them throughout their education to graduation. She credits Midwestern State University for providing the academic foundation she needed to pursue her goals. She has returned to MSU Texas to lead the institution into its second century.